Yesterday was quite a day around here. It rained for about 36 hours, sunday night into monday night. The nice thing about it, the rain was a slow soaking rain. The bad thing was power outages around and being stuck inside. Since I was stuck in the apartment all day I decided to look around and change things around. It might sound weird but I am making my bedroom into my living room and visa-versa. Why you ask. My bedroom window is in direct sunlight first thing in the morning, I like sleeping in now and then. The biggest reason was storage. Off my living room is a small closet, small enough for all my hanging clothes and some storage. In the bedroom is a huge closet that is way too big for my clothes. Why not use that closet for my pantry and have about 2 1/2 times the storage space. The bedroom is the same size as the living room and will be easier to cool on the hot summer days.
I just think it will all work out a lot better. I know visitors will see it as weird but I never said I was normal. I think it will work well for me. Around here at night it is very quiet, daytime having the living room in the bedroom there will be hardly any noise. Right now in the living room I hear every person talking outside, every car driving by, ect, ect.
Just a note, using a website I found for calculating food storage I now have 4 months of survival food saved up. I am waiting on the landlord to let me know about putting in a small garden here next year. I am already planning it out.
The website, if your interested is: http://www.foodstorageanalyzer.com it goes by calories so remember that as you figure out your food supply.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Trapping, an overlooked part of survival
It was a perfect Saturday, hardly any humidity, a cool breeze, just a great day. So, I decided to begin my exploration of spots to trap out some coon. I had a couple areas in mind and went out to the first one to look for signs and get a good idea of the area. I packed up my small ALICE pack with plenty of water, food, map, small hatchet, plastic ribbon for markers, ect. It took my about 6 hours to complete the course I laid out by map and I found some nice spots to set up traps later this year.
People might ask, why trapping? I say why not! I do not trap full time like some trappers do, I mainly trap to add to my food supply. Now don't say YUCK COON! Coon is some very tasty, nutritious meat. You just need to learn how to prepare and cook it right. The biggest thing is coons are fatty, de-fat as much as possible and slow cook it in water. Every once in a while change out the water, this helps remove most of all the fat and you are left with some good tender eatin'.
I also take my 22 cal with me and do some squirrel hunting while I am out checking traps. Why let a good opportunity go by. As the price of meat keeps going up and up in the markets, we all should do what we can to save money.
During trapping season I usually shoot for trapping 2 or 3 coons a week. that does not sound like much but for a single person that is alot of meals. If I get a few squirrels along the way, great! More meat for the freezer. Here is how I also supplement my costs, I found someone near me who traps for meat and furs and I give my furs to him to sell and we split the profits. You could do it all yourself but I found this is alot easier especially since I live in an apartment complex and it would be hard to flesh and dry pelts here.
I know many survivalists live out in the country and have the room to do it all and I recommend that you all should look into trapping. It takes alot of reading, learning and most important of all, find someone near you who would be willing to teach you. Look for a trapping association, lots of help there.
People might ask, why trapping? I say why not! I do not trap full time like some trappers do, I mainly trap to add to my food supply. Now don't say YUCK COON! Coon is some very tasty, nutritious meat. You just need to learn how to prepare and cook it right. The biggest thing is coons are fatty, de-fat as much as possible and slow cook it in water. Every once in a while change out the water, this helps remove most of all the fat and you are left with some good tender eatin'.
I also take my 22 cal with me and do some squirrel hunting while I am out checking traps. Why let a good opportunity go by. As the price of meat keeps going up and up in the markets, we all should do what we can to save money.
During trapping season I usually shoot for trapping 2 or 3 coons a week. that does not sound like much but for a single person that is alot of meals. If I get a few squirrels along the way, great! More meat for the freezer. Here is how I also supplement my costs, I found someone near me who traps for meat and furs and I give my furs to him to sell and we split the profits. You could do it all yourself but I found this is alot easier especially since I live in an apartment complex and it would be hard to flesh and dry pelts here.
I know many survivalists live out in the country and have the room to do it all and I recommend that you all should look into trapping. It takes alot of reading, learning and most important of all, find someone near you who would be willing to teach you. Look for a trapping association, lots of help there.
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